Questions and Answers
What is the difference between the variable and constant region in antibodies?
Variable region determines antigen specificity, while constant region mediates effector functions.
Antibodies are classified into 5 isotypes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE based on their structural differences in the _____ region.
constant
What is the role of cytokines in the immune system?
Cytokines induce and regulate cellular interactions involving immune, inflammatory, and hematopoietic cells.
What are the main components of the immune system that students should be able to explain by the end of the topic?
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What is the importance of learning immunology for pharmacists?
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Describe the relationship between the lymphatic system and the cardiovascular system.
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What are peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and which cells belong to PBMCs?
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How do you differentiate between mast cells and basophils?
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Other than duration of action, what is the difference between monocytes and neutrophils?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Immunology
- Learning objectives: explain the components of the immune system, including lymphoid organs, cells, and soluble mediators.
Importance of Immunology for Pharmacists
- Immunology is important for pharmacists to learn because it involves drugs that induce specific immune responses, regulate immunologic functions, and use antibodies and cytokines for therapeutics and diagnosis.
Components of the Immune System
- Immune system consists of immune organs/tissues, immune cells, and immune molecules.
- Lymphoid organs: primary (bone marrow, thymus) and secondary (spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, appendix, Peyer's patches).
- Lymphatic system drains excess interstitial fluid, transports dietary lipids, and carries out immune response.
Immune Cells
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) include lymphocytes and monocytes.
- Neutrophils: first responder to microbial infection, die after phagocytosing pathogens, forming majority of pus.
- Eosinophils: involved in allergic reactions and parasitic infections, release chemical products that perforate cell membranes.
- Basophils: involved in inflammatory response, release histamine, functionally similar to mast cells.
- Monocytes: largest type of leukocyte, share phagocytosis duties with neutrophils, mature into macrophages.
- Lymphocytes (B and T cells): responsible for antibody production, antigen presentation, and elimination of viral infections.
Prevalence of Leukocytes
- Neutrophils: 60-70%
- Lymphocytes: 20-30%
- Monocytes: 1-6%
- Eosinophils: 1-3%
- Basophils: less than 1%
Immune Molecules
- Antibodies (Ab): Y-shaped proteins produced by B cells in response to antigen, 5 isotypes (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE).
- Complement: a system of proteins that help eliminate pathogens.
- Cytokines: immunoregulatory proteins secreted by cells, including interleukin, lymphokine, monokine, interferon, and chemokine.
- Cytokines function: induction and regulation of cellular interactions involving immune, inflammatory, and hematopoietic systems.
Innate and Adaptive Immunity
- Innate immunity: immediate, non-specific response to infection.
- Adaptive immunity: delayed, specific response to infection, involves immunological recognition.
Role of the Immune System
- Immunological recognition detects infection or foreign bodies.
- Immune responses are barriers to transplantation and gene therapy.
- Deficient immunity results in increased susceptibility to infections.
- Immune defence against infections and tumours.
- Immune regulation prevents autoimmune disease.
- Importance of the immune system in health and disease.
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Description
Learn about the components of the immune system, including lymphoid organs, cells, and soluble mediators, and their roles in immune response.
